Game.



PATENTED MAR. 17, 1903.. W. H. SNYDER.

GAME

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1900.

2 SHIBBTS8HEET 1..

' VWfnesSes "No. 723,053. PATENTED MAR. 17, 190-3.

' W. H. SNYDER;

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1900.

no monm-Q 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses M-%LM2 M -flfia QL@MZ UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

WARD I-I sNYnEa'or'KALAMAzoo, MICHIGAN.

GAME.

SPECIFICATION forining part of Letters Patent No. 723,058, dated March 17, 1903.

Application filed September 11,1900. Serial No- 29,728. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARD H. SNYDER, acitizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Games or Toys, of whichthe following is a specification. i r

This invention relates to improvements in games or toys. r

The object of the invention is to provide an attractive game in which. a projectile (here made to represent a spider-in appearance) is providedwith a propelling means and suitable grappling or engaging devices corresponding to the preliensile organs of a spider and certain pieces (here made to represent flies) which are engaged by the said projectile or spider, the capture of these pieces or flies by the projectile or spider being the chief object of the game. I show the whole mounted on a circular board with the conventional illustration of a' spiders web, the propelling device being pivoted at the center and pieces being arranged within the rim at the exterior, the object of this arrangement being to secure compactness.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow.

I'accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in this specification.

The'invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

' tion.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a game-board with my improved game apparatus in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation'of the propelling means and projectile in position for ac- Fig. 3 is aside elevation of a slight modification of the same in the normal position. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on line 4 4. of Fig. 3, showing the manner of supporting the projectile upon the propelling means. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation view of the projectile or spider with the jaws and their springs removed. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view, partially-in section, on line 6 6 of Fig. 5 of the spider or projectile, showing the jaws or grappling device set for grasping the fly or piece.

Fig. 7 is a similar detail plan View to Fig. 6, showing the jaws or grappling device closed or engaging a fly or piece. A Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are all plan views, partially in section, on line 6 6 of Fig. 5, showing modified forms of grappling device on the projectile or spider, Figs. 8, 9, and 10 representing devices with trips for closing a pair ofgrappling-jaws, Fig. 11 a simple pair of spring-jaws to be forced upon the piece or fly, and Fig. 12 representand at the center of thisboard is pivoted a propelling device D, which is adapted to propel a projectile B (here made to resemble a .spider) to embrace or capture game-pieces C,

which are here made to represent flies. When made to resemble a spider, legs H are wire. and the knob e of the plunger is drawn back, and the projectile is aimed at one of the gamepieces and propelled toward it, the projectile being supplied with jaws which grasp the piece if the projectile comes properly into contact with it, thereby capturingit. In Fig. 2 one form of the projectile is illustrated, in which a plunger d is thrown forward by a spring f within a suitable tube or guide, the plunger D being connected by a rod e to a knob e. A spring 9 is outside of the guide to hold the plunger a little back of the complete stroke, so that when it is pulled back and snapped it will drive the projectileofi the base in the direction in which it isaimed. Theunder side of the spider or projectile is provided with a shoe B, so that it will move very readily"over the smooth surface of the board. The propelling means or shooter is provided with a pivot D at the center and 80 attached, made, preferably, of sheet metal or i The projectile is placed at the center,

metal.

to vture.

tic cord, connects the projectile to the shooter, so that it will not be driven violently against the rim of the board, which might injure the jaws, which are made of comparatively thin The string also acts to return the spider or projectile to the point of starting.

I show in Fig. 3 my preferred form of the shooter, it being preferred in this form on account of its simplicity and ease of manufac- The base of this is made of a strip of sheet metal the edges of which are turned up to form guides D and the rear end is turned up to form a stop or abutment. Within this guide is a movable slide D, within which the'shoe of the projectile is placed. A

plunger-rod e is connected to this slide, and a spiral springf is interposed between the parts to throw the slide D forward when the plunger-rod is drawn back and released.

This throws the projectile with great accupelling means can be used detached from the board and independent of the same for the purpose of striking and capturing pieces on any plane surface. It is preferred, however, to pivot the same at the center of a circular board, for the reason that in that event the range to the pieces at the periphery is always the same and makes the game one requiring equal skill between the players. The different circles of the web are numbered so that the pieces can be placed within the outer periphery,which of course can be very desirable in making the game very easy for juveniles.

The projectile, as I have heretofore stated, is here made to resemble a spider; but it can be in any form desired of which fancy may dictate, it being possible to carry any such form on a small shoe, like the shoe B, already referred to in this connection. To make the jaws and means for actuating the same in the 5 preferred form of the projectile, I saw a horizontal kerf G into the front end of the body and make a hole longitudinally through the body. Through this hole I extend a rod or pin F, having a head F at the rear end for applying pressure or to receive the blow of the shooter and provide a block F on the front end of the rod or'pin F, which is slightly rounded. spring material, preferably of light steel, and

conform extensions of the same E to the sides of the body and attach the same thereto, as at h, as clearly appears in Figs. 6 and 7. The base of the jaws approach close together and the jaws are crowded apart in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 and by forcing the pin F forward, which forces the block F into position between the same. When the projectile strikes one of the pieces, as O, the block F hits the projectile first and is driven back in the position illustrated in Fig. 7. This permits the jaws to close and grasp the piece, as there illustrated. The jaws are very easily I make a pair of jaws E E of some set for another shot by merely pushing the pin F forward. In Fig. 8 I illustrate a modification of this grappling device, the jawsI I being provided, which are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the pin F. Springs 1 I are secured to the sides of the body and connected to the jaws at each side and are of such length that the pivotal connection to the pin when the pin is pushed forward will pass the dead-center, and the jaws will thus be locked in position. The projectile striking near the center releases the jaws and the springs close them,so that the action in grasping the game-piece is the same as before. In Fig. 9 I show another form of the grappling devices for the projectile. Here jaws JJ are pivoted at the front and have extensions J J, which extend into the kerf G in the body. A spring J holds these inner ends normally toward each other. A pin K extends longitudinally through the body of the projectile and has a wedge-shaped piece K, adapted to be forced between the arms J J for forcing them apart to close the jaws, and the head K is on the front of this pin K to strike against the piece or man that is to be captured, which forces the wedge in between the levers J J, causing the jaws to act and grasp the piece. A button or head K is on the rear end of the pin K, so that the wedge can be forced from between the arms J J,

which allows the jaws to open and release the game-piece or set the jaws for another shot. In Fig. 10 I show still another modification of these grasping-jaws. extensions L L. A spring L is connected to these arms L to throw them normally outward, and thus cause the jaws to close on the piece or man. mally forward by a spiral spring M, surrounding the same. This is provided with a head M to strike against the game-piece, and a catch M engages the arms L to hold the jaws in the open position, so that when the projectile is driven against the game-piece the catch 1/ is withdrawn and the jaws released. The jaws are opened by pinching with the thumb and finger inward on L to set the same for a new shot, the catch being forced into the notches by the spring M.

In Fig. 11 I show still another modification in which the jaws N N are merely springs, being extended into spirals N N within the kerf G to increase their elasticity. Their forward ends are here turned slightly outward to facilitate their engaging the piece.

In Fig. 12 a still further modification of the projectile is shown, in which brads or pins 0 are supported on the projectile with a piece of rubber O or other elastic material and are adapted to strike into the game-piece and engage it in that way.

From these numerous descriptions it will be very clear that my improved device can be greatly modified in its details without departing from my invention. I have shown a great variety of the engaging jaws and en- The jaws L L have rear The bar M is held norgaging means and desire to state that I think these devices could be still further modified and still be quite "effective. The form preferred by me for the projectile, however, ap-

pears in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, which I desire to claim specifically in connection with broad claims that will embrace all of the structures illustrated. The structure of Fig. 11 is preferred in the cheaper grades.

While I have shown the game-pieces movable which are to be grasped by the projectile, I desire to remark that the same can be fixed to the board and serve very well for a game. I desire also to remark that the projectile can be forced along the playing-surface by snapping it with the fingers or by any other suitable means and still serve the purpose very well, this being particularly desirable where the projectile is made very light, as it makes a very cheap and satisfactory toy. It is also desired to remark that suitable means can be provided for throwing the projectile through space without the necessity for supporting-surfaces. This will, however, be found most desirable to propel the same along a smooth .surface for any ordinary game, a more or less elaborate means being provided for propelling and projecting the same into the air. M

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters it Patent, is-

1. In a game apparatus the combination of a board having a plane surface and a raised rim around its periphery; a shooter or proboard a projectile with engaging jaws thereon to be propelled by said shooter; and game pieces or men for arrangement onthe surface of the board to be engaged by the projectile;

. and an elastic connecting-cord from the projectile to the propelling means or shooter to limit the throw of the same.

2. In a game apparatus the combination of a board having a planesurface and a raised rim around its periphery; a shooter or propelling means pivoted to the center of said board; a projectile with engaging jaws thereon to be propelled by said shooter; and game pieces or men for arrangement on the surface of the board to be engaged by the projectile; and a connecting-cord from the projectile to the propelling means or shooter to limit the throw of the same.

3. In a game apparatus the combination of a board having a plane surface; a shooter or propelling means pivoted to the center of said board; a projectile with engaging jaws there- .on to be propelled by said shooter; and game projectile to the propelling means or shooter I to limit the throw of the same. 5. In a game apparatus, the combination of a board having a plane surface, a raised rim around its periphery; a shooter or propelling means pivoted to the center of said board; a projectile with engaging jaws thereon, adapted' to be propelled by said shooter; and game pieces or men for arrangement on the surface of the board, adapted to be engaged by the projectile, as specified.

6. In a game apparatus, the combination of a board having a plane surface; a shooter with propelling means pivoted to thecenter of the board; a projectile with engaging jaws thereon adapted to be propelled by said shooter; and game'pieces or men for arrangement on the surface of the board adaptedto be engaged by said projectile, as specified.

7. In a game apparatus, the combinationof a board having a plane surface; a shooter or propelling means; a projectile with engaging jaws thereon adapted to be propelled by said shooter; and game pieces or men for arrangement on the surface of the board adapted to .be engaged by said projectile, as specified.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

WARD H. SNYDER. [n $.11

Witnesses:

S: A. EARL, OTIS A. EARL. 

